Iowans remember 9-11

The campaniles on the campuses of two Iowa schools will ring today in remembrance of the second anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Iowa State University in Ames will hold a moment of silence at 7:46 this morning and then the bells of the I-S-U carillon will ring 11 times in remembrance of those who died in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. I-S-U will also have a plaque in the Memorial Union in honor of former Cyclone gymnast Mari Rae Sopper who died on Flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon. In Cedar Falls at the University of Northern Iowa, student Marie Hamer has organized an observance that begins at 9:11 A.M. U-N-I’s carillon bells will also toll 11 times following the moment of silence. Hamer says it can be easy to forget the day with everything else that’s going on. She says the events happening in Iowa with all the political candidates, and the attention given the California recall election seem to overshadow 9-11. Hamer can easily recall finding out what happened that day. She says she was getting ready for class when a friend called and told her to turn on the TV. Patriotism seemed to be rekindled in the wake of the attacks, and Hamer doesn’t think it has died down.She thinks patriotism is still “amazingly high”, as she says she still sees many flags on houses and cars. She says she’s amazed how people still seem to have a sense of patriotism, although they do have different things on their minds. September eleventh began with a round of remembrance for many Iowans. Cedar Rapids police Sergeant Cristy Hamblin had two stops before arriving at the office. Cedar Memorial, a local cemetery that supports police and fire departments, held one short ceremony and the city also held its own. After the two short “we have not forgotten” ceremonies, Sergeant Hamblin took part in another local tradition. Every year on September eleventh, as it happens, for at least five years, folks in Cedar Rapids take part in a blood-donation event, so two years ago the officer says she’d gone down and made her donation that morning even before the terrorist attacks happened.